Jewelry clasp



y 9 v H. F. WILLIAMS 3,319,308

JEWELRY CLASP Filed July 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HOWARD F.WILLIAMS .3 BY 'twhpc ATTO R N EYS May 16, 19 67 H. F. WILLIAMS JEWELRYCLASP 7 Filed July 15. 1965 I 2 Sheets-Sheet P FIG.7

INVENTOR. HOWARD F. WILLIAMS FIG.-8.

AT TOR N EYS United States Patent 3,319,308 JEWELRY CLASP Howard F.Williams, Cranston, R.I., assignor to Kestenman Bros. Mfg. Co.,Providence, ILL, a corporation of Rhode Island Filed July 15, 1965, Ser.No. 472,176 1 Claim. (til. 242t)6) This invention relates to wristwatchstraps, bands and bracelets, and more particularly to an improved claspfor fastening the same in adjusted relationship on the wrist of thewearer.

One object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple andcompact clasp of the type indicated which is adapted to be used with thestraps and bracelets of conventional type for conveniently fasteningthem in place.

Another object is to provide a clasp of the type indicated which may beused for connecting the ends of a flexible mesh bracelet of metal and isalso adapted for use with leather straps.

Another object is to provide a clasp of the type indicated with itsparts constructed of precious or plated sheetmetal shaped to provide aneat and ornamental appearance without external projections.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred form of construction of thepresent improved clasp and a slightly modified form thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a flexible metal band or braceletadapted for use with Wristwatches;

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the same showing the overlapping portionsthereof attached by the present improved clasp;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the claspshown in open or in released relationship on the watch band or bracelet;

FIG. 4 is a similar sectional view of the clasp shown attached to oneend of a length of the bracelet enclosing the underlying length thereofand closed to grip the same for connecting the two portions thereof;

FIG. 5 is a comprehensive perspective view of the several parts of theimproved clasp shown individually in disassembled relationship;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, and showingthe clasp applied to a chain link bracelet;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the clasp as of slightlymodified construction to adapt it for use with a leather strap or band;and

FIG. 8 is a part-sectional plan view on line 8-8 of,

FIG. 7.

Referring first to FIG. 5 of the present drawings, the main or baseportion 2 of the clasp is constructed in U-shape with a flat bottom wall3 and upstanding side flanges 4 and 5, shown herein as of substantiallyovate outline in side view. Held in holes 7, 7 in the flanges 4 and 5 toextend therebetween is a headed pin 10 which connects the means forfastening the clasp to the end of one length b of the bracelet B (FIG.3). Such means may comprise an element 12 having opposed substantiallyflat lip-like portions 14 and 15 (FIG. 5) joined together by a circularbent connecting strip 16 of the metal, shown most clearly in FIG. 5. Thecircular connecting strip 16 receives the pin 10, previously mentioned,to connect one end of the bracelet length b to the clasp as shown inFIG. 3. The lips 14 and 15 overlap the opposite sides of the end of thebracelet length b and may be secured thereto by any suitable grippingmeans such as shown in FIG. 3. The element 12 has small projections 17at the ends of its lip portion 15 which engage in rectangular holes 18in the flanges 4 and 5 of the member 2 (FIG.

3,3l9,3ll8 Patented May 16, 1967 "ice 5). Such means prevent any rotarydisplacement of the bracelet length b around the pin 10 that attaches itto the clasp.

Pivoted between the flanges 4 and 5 of the main member 2 is a clampinglever 20 (FIG. 5) of substantially arched formation having hinge-ears21, 21 constructed from spaced-apart strips of the sheet-metal bentaround to embrace the headed pin 10 (FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 5 theclamping lever 20 may be ornamented or embellished on its upper surfaceby engraving, embossing or other means.

A second pin 22 (FIG. 7) formed with reduced pintles 23 at its ends(FIG. 8) may be provided to engage holes in the side flanges 4 and 5 ofthe main member 2 to position it for insertion through a loop 1 at theend of the strap length s. As an added feature of the presentimprovement, one side flange 5 of the main member 2 may have anextension in the form of a flat arm 25 (FIG. 8) bent around to extendbetween the sides of the loop I at the end of the strap length s toprevent any rotary displacement of the strap around the pin 22 thatattaches it to the clasp.

The means for connecting the opposite length b of the bracelet B or thelength s of the strip S to the clasp may comprise a relatively fiatclamping element 29 such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The element 29 hassmall projections 30 at its ends for engaging in rectangular holes 31 inthe flanges 4 and 5 of the member 2 (FIG. 5) whereby to, mount it tooverlie the top of the bracelet length b (FIG. 6) or the length s' (FIG.7) of the strap length S. Portions of the metal may be cut away from themember 29 and bent down to provide teeth 32 engageable with indentationsin the top of the bracelet section b (FIG. 4). Preferably, the clampingmember 29 has a whole series of teeth 32 formed by cutting away parts inthe metal (FIG. 5) and bending down the cut away portions. The clampingmember 29 cooperates with the flat bottom wall 3 of the main member 2(FIG. 4) to securely grip the bracelet length b' when the clasp is usedwith a bracelet constructed of flexible mesh such as shown in FIGS. 3and 4. On the other hand, for straplike bands S such as shown in FIG. 7,or link bracelets as illustrated in FIG. 6, a fiat plain-faced member 33is preferable for use as the upper clamping means. With this latter typeof clamping means, scratching, abrading or otherwise marring the upperpolished surface of the strap or band is avoided. To render the clampingmeans secure for this last-mentioned use the bottom wall 3 of the mainmember 2 may have one or more projections or teeth 34 (FIG. 7) forbiting into the under side of the strap. On the other hand, when theclasp is used with a link bracelet such as shown in FIG. 6 a roundedprojection or tooth 35 is provided for engaging the circularindentations 37 on the under side of the bracelet links.

Because of the eccentric support of the clamping element 29, it normallyassumes an incline-d position so that the bracelet free end can beintroduced easily thereunder.

The rockable clamping lever 20 is constructed with means for forciblybinding the two flat parts of the clasp against the opposite sides ofthe strap or bracelet, as the case may be, by a camming action (FIGS. 4and 7). As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the camming means may consist ofprojections 40 on the under side of the bent around hinge-ears 21 of theclamping lever 20. As previously explained, the hinge-ears 21 are spacedapart for receiving the circular connecting strip 16 of the element 12,which fastens the bracelet length to the clasp when certain of its partsare assembled in connected relationship.

It will be understood that to apply the band or bracelet to the wrist ofthe wearer it is placed therearound with the clasp attached to the endof the length overlying the top of the wrist and its remaining lengthcarried around under the wrist and brought up for insertion through theclasp beneath the clamping element 29. Then the operating lever 20 ispressed down to engage its cam-like projections 40 on the hinge-ears 21with the top of the clamping or binding element 29 to force it againstthe top of the strap, band or bracelet. This causes the member 29 tocooperate with the bottom wall 3 of the main member 2 so that its teeth32 will engage in the indentations in the top of the bracelet length bto securely grip it in adjusted relationship. In other cases the sameaction takes place when the clamping element 29 without teeth is usedand pressed down to cooperate with the bottom wall 3 of the main member2. In such instance, the rounded projection 35 will engage theindentations 37, sometimes provided on the under side of the links ofthe bracelet B, to prevent it from sliding through the clasp. In eachinstance, the camming member 40 makes frictional contact with the upperside of the clamping element 29 or 33 to prevent release of theoperating lever 20 so that a secure fastening of the bracelet isassured.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the presentinvention provides a particularly neat and attractive bracelet claspingdevice which may be varied slightly in construction to adapt it for usewith different types of watch bracelets. That is to say, the mainelements of the device are of standard construction which may beassembled by the addition of certain small elements to adapt the claspto be used for either straps, metal bands or link bracelets. In thisway, an extremely versatile clasp is provided of ornamental appearanceand without alteration in its general form of construction.

While the invention is herein shown and described as embodied in apreferred form of construction with slight modifications thereof, itsmain constituents remain the same as defined in the combinations of thefollowing claim. Without limiting myself to the exact details ofconstruction shown and described, I claim:

As an article of jewelry, a clasp for Wristwatch straps. bands andbracelets comprising a main member having A bottom wall and upstandingside flanges, a pin connected to said side flanges, an attaching memberconnected to said pin and provided with relatively flat lips forengaging across the opposite sides of a length of the strap, band orbracelet at one end thereof, means for preventing rotative displacementof said attaching member relative to said main member, a relatively flatclamping element held between the side flanges of said main memberoverlying the opposite length of the band or bracelet inserted throughsaid main member above its bottom wall, said clamping member having -awidth less than the height of said side flanges and having leading andtrailing transverse edges, said clamping member having a pair of alignedprojections on opposing ends thereof and adjacent said leading edge,said side flanges having aligned holes receiving said projections sothat said clamping member is supported on an axis displaced from itscenter of gravity, an operating lever pivoted on said pin between theside flanges of said main member, and carnming means on said operatinglever adapted to engage against the top of the clamping element at alocus spaced from said projections and toward said trailing edge tocause it to cooperate with said bottom wall of said main member forgripping the band or bracelet to connect it with said clasp in adjustedrelation on the wrist of the wearer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,651,435 12/1927Bernstein 24l91 1,701,060 2/1929 Armbust 24-191 2,015,308 9/1935 Heer24-191 X 2,016,712 10/1935 Freysinger 24-191 FOREIGN PATENTS 493,0179/1938 Great Britain.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

